Positionally adjustable trouble lamp means



Nov. 18, 1969 F. DAHL 3,479,499

POSITIONALLY ADJUSTABLE TROUBLE LAMP MEANS Filed June 28, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ."nHI A o L', ,'B, 8 I!" W 1 52.

PIGJS INVENTOR.

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 24010.6 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An electrically energized lamp structure having a base whichmay be held manually or attached or mounted to a support by a magneticattachment means. The base is provided with means for deliveringelectrical energy to a head which is detachably secured to the base byan adjustable interconnecting means carrying electrical conductor meansand possessing suflicient rigidity to support the head in any selectedposition away from the base. The adjustable interconnecting means, inone preferred form, includes two or more longitudinal rigid members anda plurality of longitudinally spaced hinge means interconnecting ends ofsaid rigid members to each other, to said base at one end of saidinterconnecting means, and to said head at the other end of saidinterconnecting means, with said hinge means being frictionallyinterengaged to a degree sufficient to firmly support the head in anyselected extended position. In one preferred form, the rigid members ofthe interconnecting means are adapted, when completely collapsed, toform a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the base. Also in onepreferred form, a control switch is carried by the head in aconveniently manually accessible and operable position completelyindependent of the base.

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending applicationSer. No. 565,823, filed July 18, 1966, now Patent No. 3,393,312, and ofco-pending application Ser. No. 486,048, filed Sept. 9, 1965, now PatentNo. 3,393,- 311.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a portable lampmeans of an extremely adjustable type, as to the position of alight-emitting head portion thereof with respect to a base means or baseportion thereof, which is provided with mounting or attachment meansadapted for use in temporarily holding, mounting or attaching it to anysuitable auxiliary supporting means such as a hand, an auxiliarymounting structure or surface, or the like, at virtually any desiredlocation. In one preferred exemplary form of the invention, theattachment means of said base means or portion comprises a novel type ofmagnetic attachment means cooperable for temporary magnetic mountingattachment in virtually any selected position with respect to anysuitable ferromagnetic auxil iary mounting surface.

From the above very general description of the broad nature of thepresent invention, it will be recognized that it is ideally suited foremergency illumination purposes and may be said to comprise an emergencyor trouble lamp means, such as is extremely desirable for nighttimeautomotive repairs of a variety of different types, such as repairshaving to do with the engine, transmission, or the like, repairs havingto do with flat tires, or the like, or, indeed, virtually any type ofrepair or investigation conducted under conditions of poor ambientlighting and which will be facilitated through the use of the novelapparatus of the present invention for providing full illuminationdirectly on the region or area where the investigation or repair work isto be done.

It will be understood that since most conventional motor vehicles arevery largely made of ferromagnetic materials, the form of the inventionembodying a novel type of magnetic attachment means provides a veryconvenient arrangement for attaching the device to virtually any portionof a motor vehicle body or engine closely adjacent to the region whichit is desired to illuminate and that then the light-emitting head meansor portion of the novel apparatus of the present invention can be movedwith respect to said magnetically attached base means or portion intovirtually and desired position relative thereto within a certainpredetermined distance of the point of magnetic attachment of said basemeans or portion to the ferromagnetic portion of the motor vehicle,which is temporarily serving as an auxiliary mounting surface orstructure. This makes it possible to direct the light, in just thedesired manner, into or onto a particular desired region or area foroptimizing the illumination thereof while substantially completelypreventing glare, or the like, from impinging directly upon the eyes ofa user of the device.

It will be understood that the novel apparatus of the present invention,as broadly and generically described above, provides major advantagesover pre-existing conventional prior art emergency or trouble lamps orthe like, since, normally, all such prior art devices which are ofaportable nature and which have magnetic attachment means are so arrangedthat the light-emitting portion thereof is in a fixed relationship withrespect to the magnetic attachment means thereof, thus making itimpossible to provide a desired positional readjustment of thelightemitting portion with respect to the magnetic attachment portionthereof when mounted in magnetically held engagement with respect to anydesired ferromagnetic surface portion of a motor vehicle. Therefore, itwill readily be understood that such prior art arrangements make itpossible to mount the emergency or trouble lamp on the ferromagneticbody of the motor vehicle, on the engine thereof, or an adjacentferromagnetic fender or inside hood portions or the like, but very oftenit will be found that it is impossible to provide the requisite degreeof adjustment of the emitted light by adjusting the magnetic attachmentof the complete unit with respect to the ferromagnetic portion of themotor vehicle carrying same. Thus, it will be found that onlyillumination in the general region desired can, in many cases, beprovided by such prior art arrangements, and precisely the desireddirectional adjustment of the emitted light cannot be provided in suchprior art arrangements.

However, as pointed out above, the above-mentioned major disadvantage ofsuch magnetically attachable prior art emergency or trouble lamp meansis completely eliminated and overcome in and through the use of thepresent invention, where the final positioning of the emitted light foroptimum illumination purposes is not accomplished by attempting toreadjust the magnetic attachment means or portion with respect to theferromagnetic portion of the motor vehicle carrying same, but is usuallyaccomplished substantially entirely by adjusting the lightemitting headinto virtually any desired positional relationship with respect to saidbase means or portion and said magnetic attachment means carried therebyin one form of the invention. Thus, the apparatus of the presentinvention provides optimum illumination under the emergency typeconditions referred to above in a manner which heretofore has beenimpossible to achieve with conventional prior art magneticallyattachable emergency or trouble lamps or lights,

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a novel adjustable emergency and/ or trouble lamp meanshaving a base means capable of being mounted or attached with respect toan auxiliary means such as a hand, an auxiliary supporting surface, orthe like, in virtually any desired manner and having a light-emittinghead means or portion effectively interconnected with respect to saidbase means or portion by positionally adjustable interconnecting meansadapted to be controllably positionable into any of a plurality ofdifferent positions whereby to correspondingly position thelight-emitting head means relative to said base means in a manner suchthat said light-emitting head means Will direct light rays therefrominto a desired region in a manner such as to provide optimumillumination of said desired region and in a manner such as to minimizeglare reaching the eyes of a user of the device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to in the preceding object, wherein the completeadjustable emergency and trouble lamp means is of a readily portablenature and wherein the means for attaching the base means or portionthereof with respect to an auxiliary supporting surface comprises anovel type of magnetic attachment means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provid apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinbefore, wherein the base means isprovided with a self-contained source of electrical energy comprisingbattery means, and wherein the entire device closely simulates aconventional flashlight when the light-emitting head means and said basemeans are in effectively collapsed, closely adjacent, and effectivelyengaged relationship, and yet wherein said light-emitting head means canbe quickly and easily effectively disengaged from such closely adjacentrelationship with respect to the base means or portion and can beextended and moved into virtually any position permitted by the maximumlength of said positionally adjustable interconnecting means connectedbetween said base means and said light-emitting head means, thus makingit possible to cause light emitted from said light-emitting head meansto be directed in an optimum illumination manner on any selected regionlying within a. predetermined maximum distance (corresponding to thelength of said interconnecting means) of said base means or portion andits attachment with respect to said auxiliary supporting surface orstructure, which usually comprises a portion of a motor vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide anarrangement such that the adjustable interconnecting means connectedbetween the base means and the lightemitting head means takes the formof two or more longitudinal, rigid members and a plurality of forciblydeflectable hinge means interconnected therebetween and connecting thecomplete interconnecting means at opposite ends thereof to the basemeans of the device and to the head means of the device, respectively,and with said hinge means being frictionally interengaged to a degreesuch as to normally maintain the position of the, light-emitting headmeans relatively to the base means in any selected extended positionaway from the base means until it is forcibly manually repositioned byeffectively overriding the frictional interengagement of the hingemeans.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement suchthat two or more of the longitudinal, rigid members of theinterconnecting means are laterally displaced from each other and arefoldable into side-byside relationship substantially parallel to anddirectly along the outside of the base means in a manner effectivelyforming a continuous outside surface part of the base means when infully collapsed, retracted relationship with respect to the base means.In one form of the invention, the continuous outside surface part of thebase means formed by the collapsed, side-by-side exterior portions ofthe folded, longitudinal, rigid members of the interconnecting means maybe effectively flush with the surface of the base means and, in anotherform, may extend beyond the base means in a manner such as to form apart of the effective outer surface of the base means so that to the eyeof the casual observer the exterior surfaces of the collapsed, folded,longitudinal, rigid members will be virtually indistinguishable from theremainder of the base means structure and will appear to be anintentional part of the over-all design of the exterior surface of thebase means. In the above-mentiond form wherein the exterior surfaces ofthe folded, longitudinal, rigid members are adapted to lie substantiallyflush with the exterior surface of the base means, this is made possibleby the provision of longitudinal recess means along at least one side ofthe base means and, in one version of this modification of theinvention, along opposite sides thereof and a rear end thereof, withsaid recess means being adapted to receive corresponding parts of thefolded, longitudinal, rigid members comprising the interconnecting meanswhen in fully collapsed, retracted relationship with respect to the basemeans, thus providing in this particular modification an arrangementsuch that the collapsed interconnecting means will lie substantiallyfully within the recess means in a manner substantially exteriorly flushwith laterally adjacent outer surface portions of the base means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinbefore wherein the means for mounting orattaching the base means, or portion, with respect to an auxiliarysupporting means of a non-limiting type taking the form of aferromagnetic auxiliary supporting surface may comprise a novel type ofmagnetic attachment means which is normally substantially fullyretracted and out of sight from the exterior of the base means, butwhich is adapted to automatically extend into a position protruding fromthe base means for magnetically attracting attachment and engagementwith respect to an auxiliary ferromagnetic supporting surface wheneverit is brought close to same.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinbefore wherein the means for attachingthe base means, or portion, with respect to an auxiliary supportingsurface may take a form other than magnetic attachment means or, eventhough it may comprise magnetic attachment means, it may effectivelycooperate with a non-ferromagnetic auxiliary supporting surface in anon-magnetic manner. In other words, even in that form of the inventionwherein said means comprises magnetic attachment means, under someconditions of use it may merely rest upon a supporting surface and maybe of sufficient mass to function as an effective gravity-typeattachment means similar to any weighted base, or the like. In certainforms of said attachment means, whether of a magnetic type or anonmagnetic type, it may be of substantial mass to facilitate engagementthereof with respect to an underlying sup porting surface by reason ofthe action of gravity and/or in certain forms, may be of a type definingan attachment bottom or foot portion of substantial width and/or length,in some cases having substantially laterally and/ or longitudinallyand/or otherwise separated, supporting contact or foot portions adaptedto engage or rest upon an auxiliary supporting surface at spaced pointswhereby to provide a very stable type of engagement therebetween adaptedto effectively support the light-emitting head means even when it hasbeen attached and moved to a very substantially offset remote locationwith respect to said attachment means. In other forms of said attachmentmeans wherein it is not magnetic, it might, for example, comprise one ormore suction cup means made of elastomeric or rubber material, or thelike, adapted to be placed in suction-type engagement with anyrelatively smooth supporting surface. Indeed, various different types ofattachment means other than those specifically referred to hereinbefore(which, in some cases, may be controllably separable from the rest ofthe base means) may be employed in lieu thereof, and all such areintended to be included and comprehended within the scope of the presentinvention, and it should be understood that specific referencesthroughout this application to the exemplary magnetic type or form ofsaid attachment means and to the magnetic attachment or engagementthereof with respect to a ferromagnetic type of supporting surface areto be broadly construed and read in the light of the preceding statementas including and comprehending all such attachment arrangements andmeans as referred to above. It should also be noted that, broadlyspeaking, the mounting or attachment means referred to above may, ineffect, merely comprise any portion of the exterior surface of the basemeans which is used for temporary mounting or holding of the base meansin a desired position by auxiliary mounting means, whether the auxiliarymounting means is a ferromagnetic structure having a ferromagneticsurface, some other type of rigid auxiliary structure, or even the handof a person holding the base means, and the expression attachment meansas used herein is to be construed as broadly inclusive of all sucharrangements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinbefore which may be employed for a greatvariety of different illumination purposes other than for illuminatingvarious portions of a motor vehicle in the manner of a trouble light oremergency light, as referred to hereinbefore and hereinafter. Forexample, it may be employed for illuminating a fuse box at night when afuse is to be replaced. It may be employed for reading maps at night. Itmay be employed for appliance repair work or for any of a great varietyof other purposes where proper illumination is not convenientlyavailable, and it should be clearly understood that whenever referenceis made in this application to the device as comprising a motor vehicletrouble or emergency light and to being mounted on a ferromagneticsurface of a motor vehicle for emergency repair purposes, or the like,said reference is to be broadly construed in the light of the abovestatement relative to the broad application and field of usage of thepresent invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to hereinbefore wherein said base means simulatesin appearance a conventional flashlight when the entire device is in theeffectively collapsed retracted relationship referred to hereinbeforeand wherein, when in said configuration, the device can be used toperform all of the normal functions of a conventional prior artflashlight and is adapted to be hand-held, in which case the previouslymentioned mounting or attachment means effectively comprises theexterior surface of the base means which is manually held.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character referred toherein, wherein said base means and/ or said light-emitting head meansmay be remotely electrically energized.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in onepreferred form thereof, an arrangement wherein electric switch means iselectrically connected in circuit with the light-emitting head means anda source of electrical power, such as battery means adapted to becontained within the base means, for example, or any other suitableelectric power supply means adapted to be connected to the base means,with said electric switch means being physically carried by thelight-emitting head means in a manner completely physically independentof the base means and in an exteriorly manually operatively accessibleposition on the light-emitting head means so that the light can beturned on or off at the head means and without the necessity of reachingback to the base means for energizing or de-energizing the lightemittinghead means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character referred to herein, having the advantages referred toherein, and including the features referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and individually or in combination, and which is ofextremely simple, inexpensive, easy-to-use construction adapted forready mass manufacture at very low cost whereby to be conducive towidespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but notspecifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will beapparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of thedetailed description which follows hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one exemplary embodiment of theinvention in fully retracted, collapsed, and folded form, with theseparable light-emitting head means positioned at the right and inengaged relationship on the right end of the housing means of the basemeans.

FIG. 2 is a side view as seen from an aspect similar to FIG. 1, butshows the device partly in central plane vertical section and partly inelevation, and also shows the device in a partially opened-up positionsuch as would normally occur just prior to the full and completecollapsing of the device or just after the beginning of an unfolding andextending operation has begun. In other words, the light-emitting headmeans and the two longitudinal, rigid members of the interconnectingmeans are shown slightly displaced from their fully retracted and closedpositions shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken away view, takenalong the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 2A-2A ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken away view, takensubstantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by thearrows 3-3 of FIG. 2, and illustrates a representative one of theforcibly defiectable, normally frictionally interengaged hinge meanspositioned along the length of the interconnecting means comprisingthree such forcibly defiectable hinge means and the two interveningrigid members.

FIG. 4 is an exterior, three-dimensional, pictorial view of the completedevice in the fully retracted, closed relationship shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken away, sectionalview, taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicatedby the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1, but actually shows the device in thepartially opened relationship illustrated in FIG. 2 rather than in thefully closed relationship shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the portion of FIG. 2 wherethe most remote portion of the interconnecting means is joined 'by thelast and most remote one of the forcibly defiectable or bendable hingemeans to the light-emitting head means and shows the two portions ofsaid hinge means in effectively exploded or arbitrarily separatedrelationship in FIG. 6 for purposes of clarityit being understood thatnormally the two hinge portions will not be in the separatedrelationship shown in FIG. 6, but will be in the fully joinedrelationship shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, sectional view taken substantially along theplane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 77 of FIG. 1 andprimarily illustrates the hinged connection of the most remote end ofthe interconnecting means to the light-emitting head means and alsoshows interior details of the construction of the lightemitting headmeans.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken substantially along a planeand in the direction indicated by the arrows 88 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view, partially in elevation and partiallybroken away into a substantially central, vertical plane, andillustrates a slight modification of the invention wherein the switch isno longer on the remote light-emitting head means but is carried by oneof the rigid members of the interconnecting means and wherein magneticattachment means of a novel type is positioned at one side of the basemeans (at the bottom thereof in the example illustrated) and is normallyadapted to be fully retracted in the manner shown in FIG. 10, but inFIG. 9 is shown in extended, operative position brought about by theengagement thereof with respect to a ferromagnetic auxiliary surface ofsubstantial mass and thickness.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, partially sectional and partially elevationalview, taken substantially along the staggered-line plane and in thedirection indicated by the arrows 1010 of FIG. 9, but with theferromagnetic auxiliary surface removed and with the magnetic attachmentmeans retracted.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial, three-dimensional, exterior view of anothermodified form of the invention, generally similar to the first form ofthe invention but of generally cylindrical configuration so as to veryclosely resemble and simulate the exterior shape of a conventionalfiashlight. This view shows the device in fully retracted, collapsedfor-m analogous to that of the first form of the invention as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the interconnecting means of the FIG. 11 formof the invention in one exemplary extended position such as to positionthe light-emitting head means at one particular exemplary remoteposition relative to the base means.

Generally speaking, the exemplary first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-8 inclusive may be said to comprise anelectrically energiz-able light-emitting head means, such as isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 20, a base means adaptedto be supplied with electrical energy, one exemplary form of which isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 22 in the exemplary firstform of the invention, with said light-emitting head means and said basemeans 22 being effectively provided with positionally adjustableinterconnecting means, such as is generally designated by the referencenumeral 24, connected therebetween in a manner such as to becontrollably repositionable into any of a plurality of differentpositions whereby to correspondingly position the light-emitting headmeans 20 relative to the base means 22 in a manner such that thelightemitting head means 20 will direct light rays emitted therefrominto any desired region when electrically energized, and in a mannerproviding optimum illumination of said region with an absolute minimumof glare directly reaching the eyes of a user of the complete,positionally adjustable emergency trouble lamp means basicallycomprising said three elements 20, 22, and 24.

Also, since the complete device is intended to be mounted, held orattached temporarily in a selected position with respect to some type ofauxiliary mounting or holding means, it may be said in a board orgeneric sense that the apparatus includes means for facilitating suchmounting, holding, or attaching of the complete device in such aselected position so that the light-emitting head means 20 can directlight into a desired region. Such means may be referred to as mountingor attachment means which is to be construed very broadly and which, inthe exemplary first form of the invention, merely comprises the exteriorof the base means 22, which can be either placed upon an auxiliarysurface or held in a hand (which, in this instance, would comprise theauxiliary mounting means) and therefore the so-called mounting orattachment means, in the first form of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 1-8 inclusive, may comprise the complete exterior surface 26 ofthe base means 22 or merely the bottom or rear end portion thereof,while in later forms of the invention to be described hereinafter, the

mounting or attachment means is somewhat more sophisticated and takesthe form of a novel type of magnetic or attachment means, one exemplaryform of Which is best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, which will bedescribed in detail hereinafter. However, it should be clearlyunderstood that the type of magnetic mounting or attachment means shownin the FIG. 9 or 10* modification of the invention, other types ofmagnetic mounting and attachment means, and even mounting and attachmentmeans of non-magnetic types, may all be employed within the broad scopeof the invention, and it is to be clearly understood that the inventionis not specifically limited to the arrangement specifically illustratedin the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-8 .or to thearrangement specifically illustrated in the second form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, or to the arrangement specificallyillustrated in the third form of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,but is intended to include and comprehend arrangements of the alternatetypes referred to generally hereinabove and to any substantialfunctional equivalents thereof.

It will be understood that the exemplary first form of the inventiongenerically described above provides an arrangement ideally suited foruse as a positionally adjustable emergency or trouble lamp means of aportable nature, which may be carried by a motorist (or any person whomay have need of such a trouble lamp means) so that, in the event thathis motor vehicle breaks down or he has some other sort of difficultyafter dark or under conditions of poor illumination, he may stop themotor vehicle and find the source of the difficulty by electricallyenergizing the light-emitting head means 20 and, after 10- eating thesource of the dilficulty, which might comprise a fiat tire or some minormechanical trouble under the hood of the automobile, or the like, themotorist may then appropriately either manually grasp the attachmentmeans portion 26 of the base means 22 or may rest it upon anyconveniently near-at-hand portion of the motor vehicle body, fenders,hood, inside engine compartment surface, or even a portion of the engineor adjacent accessories so that the base means 22 will be positioned ina properly mounted relationship such that the energized light-emittinghead means 20 will direct light generally into the desired region tofacilitate inspection and/or repair of whatever is at fault.

Once the proper location for temporarily mounting or positioning thebase means 22 has been determined, whether of the hand-held type of suchmounting or of the type of such mounting comprising the resting of thebase means 22 or an attachment surface portion 26 thereof on anysuitable auxiliary mounting surface, the motorist may then disengage thelight-emitting head means 20 from the rectangular right-end cap 28 ofthe housing means 30 comprising parts of said base means 22 in a mannersuch as is shown in process in FIG. 2, and then the motorist maypositionally readjust the light-emitting head means 20 into an optimumposition for specifically directing light rays emitted from thelight-emitting head means 20 into the desired region where the motoristintends to investigate the source of the motor vehicles malfunction orto attempt minor repair Work. This repositioning operation, or any othersubstantial equivalent of this repositioning operation, is made possibleby the positionally adjustable inter-connecting means 24 having a remoteor head end 32 connected mechanically and electrically to thelight-emitting head means 20 and having a base end 34 connected bothmechanically and electrically to the right end of the base means 22. Ofcourse, it will be understood that each of said mechanical connectionsadjacent the head end 32 and adjacent the base end 34 is directly to thecorresponding head means 20 and the corresponding end of the base means22, but that the corresponding electrical connections referred to aboveare through-passing connections which extend through said mechanicalconnections, in the first case through a con- 9. trollably operableelectrical switch means, indicated genreally at 40, to an electric lightbulb 42, both carried within the light-emitting head means 20, and inthe second case through suitable hereinafter-described electricalconnection means within the base means 22 to one or more battery means38.

It will be understood that movement of the electrical switch means 40carried by the light-emitting head means into one position willeffectively disconnect the light bulb means 42 from the battery means 38and that movement of said electrical switch means 40 in another mannerwill effectively connect the light bulb means 42 to the battery means 38and cause electrical energization of the light bulb 42 and theconsequent emission of light from the light-emitting head means 20.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, thelight-emitting head means 20 may additionally include light-directingand/or focusing means, such as generally designated at 44, which maycomprise a reflective mirror means 46 which, in one preferred form, maycomprise a substantially parabolic mirror, although not specifically solimited, and, additionally, it may include a front focusing lens orwindow panel 48 which, in certain forms of the invention, may berelatively positionally adjustable with respect to the location of theelectric light bulb 42 and/or with respect to the reflective mirror 46for the purpose of modifying, in a focusing manner, the emitted lightrays. However, the invention is not specifically limited to anyparticular type of light directing means 44 and, in some cases, it maybe of a non-adjustable nature.

It will be understood that, in the exemplary first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-8 and described above, the interconnecting means24 comprises both a physical interconnecting structural or couplingmeans interconnecting the light-emitting head means 20 and the basemeans 22, and also comprises an electrically interconnecting electriccircuit means portion electrically interconnecting the electric lightbulb 42 of said light-emitting head means 20 with the base means 22 andthe electric power source 38 carried thereby. As is best illustrated inFIGS. 2, 2A, and 6, the above-mentioned electrical interconnectingelectric circuit means of said interconnecting means 24 comprises thetwo wires 50 which are made of deformable, electrically conductivematerial (usually suitably exteriorly electrically insulated) while theabove-mentioned physical interconnecting structural means of saidinterconnecting means indicated generally at 24 may be said to comprisea longitudinal physical coupling member, also designated by thereference numeral 24, incorporating therealong a plurality of effectiveforcibly bendable or forcibly deflectable hinge means, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 52, adapted to effectively providefor relative bending or deflection of longitudinally displaced portionsof the coupling member 24 with respect to each other. In the exemplaryfirst form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 18 inclusive, there arethree such forcibly bendable or deflectable hinge means, each generallydesignated by the same reference numeral 52, although they ditfersomewhat in construction and will be individually described hereinafter,and said three forcibly bendable or deflectable hinge means 52 may besaid to comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced hinge meansinterconnecting the longitudinal rigid members 54 which form theabove-mentioned relatively displaceable portions of the coupling member24, with said forcibly bendable hinge means 52 each having an axis ofrotation substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of theadjacent longitudinal rigid members 54.

It should be noted that the most remote forcibly bendable hinge means 52is only pivotal around a horizontal axis in the exemplary first form ofthe invention illustrated, and that this is also true of theintermediate or middle, forcibly bendable hinge means 52. However, thehinge means 52 at the point of attachment of the base end 34 of thecoupling member 24 to the right end of the base means 22 is not limitedto pivoting around only such a. horizontally directed axis but can alsopivot around a vertically directed axis. This mutually perpendicularpivoting feature of the lowermost one of the three hinge means 52,together with the pivoting of each of the other two hinge means 52around a horizontal axis, provides an arrangement such that thelight-emitting head means 20 can be controllably moved into virtuallyany desired position by reason of the frictional interengagement of eachof the bendable hinge means 52 which is provided by reason of athrough-passing hollow rivet or grommet 56 in certain of the threehinges 52, and/or by other frictionally interengaged structuresassociated therewith, which allow the corresponding portions of thewires 50 of the electric circuit means to pass from one side of each ofthe hinge means to the other side thereof while also providing a pivotalinterconnection between the two hinged portions having a certain degreeof frictional interengagement therebetween which will thus cause thecorresponding hinge means 52 to remain in any position into which it isforcibly manually adjusted.

In the case of the lowermost or base hinge means 52, it will be notedthat a substantially U-shaped portion 58 is attached by the hollow rivetor grommet 56 to the top wall of the housing 30 of the base means 22 forrotation around a vertical axis of rotation while simultaneouslyallowing the two Wires 50 of the electric circuit means to passtherethrough from their lowermost locations within the hollow interiorof the housing 30 of the base means 22 into an upper position within thehollow lowermost rigid member 54 of the interconnecting coupling means24. In other words, the hollow interior of the lowermost hollow rivet orgrommet 56 passes both of the wires 50 through the lowermost hinge means52 from the interior of the base means 22 into the interior of the baseend 34 of the coupling means 24. The lowermost hinge means 52 also has apair of horizontally aligned rivets 60 pivotally interconnectingopposite side walls of the U-shaped bracket member 58 with respect tothe corresponding side walls of the lowermost rigid arm 54 andcomprising a part of the complete lowermost hinge means 52, which isthus provided with the capability of forciblefrictionalhinge-interengagement-overcoming rotation around a verticalaxis and around a horizontal axis as needed for repositioning thelight-emitting head means 20 into any desired location.

The middle or intermediate, forcibly bendable or deflectable hinge means52 similarly passes the two wires 50 of the electric circuit meansthrough the hollow frictional rivet or grommet 56 from the left end ofthe lowermost rigid member 54 into the left end of the laterallyadjacent uppermost rigid member 54, and also provides the same type ofnormal frictional interengagement previously described and operable tohold said hinge means 52 in any position into which it has been forciblymanually adjusted. The uppermost hinge means 52 adjacent to the upperend 32 of the coupling means 24 includes an extension 62 of the rightside wall of the upper rigid member 54 (best shown in FIG. 7) extendingthrough a hole 64 in the rear surface of the light-emitting head means20 into a position interior thereof and in opposition to a similaroffset extension member 66 carried by the left side wall of the upperrigid member 54 and extending through said hole 64 into the interior ofthe light-emitting head means 20 at a laterally spaced location withrespect to the firstmentioned extension 62. Said extensions 62 and 66are provided with a pair of laterally aligned rivets 68 which pivotallyand frictionally fasten said extensions 62 and 66 to corresponding wallportions 70 and 72 of the lightemitting head means 20 in a frictionallyinterengaged and effectively retained manner so that the light-emittinghead means 20 can be forcibly manually pivoted around a horizontaltransverse axis extending through the aligned pivot pins 68 into aselected position where it will remain 1 l by reason of the frictionalinterengagement of said parts of the upper hinge means 52 until it issubsequently manually forcibly again positionally readjusted. Thischaracteristic is true of each of the three slightly different hingemeans 52.

It should be noted that the two rigid members 54 of the coupling means24 are laterally displaced from each other (this means that they arelaterally positioned alongside of each other and not actually physicallyspaced apart with a substantial intervening space therebetween) so thatwhen folded into the closed relationship shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each ofsaid two rigid members is in side-by-side relationship substantiallyparallel to each other and directly along the outside of the base means22 in a manner which may be said to form a continuous outer surface partof the base means 22, as is perhaps best shown from a carefulexamination of FIGS. 1 and 4, where it is believed to be completelyevident that the over-all rectangular configuration of the base means 22is not disturbed or modified by the pair of folded, rigid members 54 ofthe coupling means 24, but is complemented thereby in a manner such asto provide a complete rectangular crosssectional configuration and shapeto the fully folded and collapsed device. In other words, the device,when folded, does not have protruding and obviouslydesign-configuration-disturbing outside-positioned rigid member whichwould seriously mar the over-all esthetic characteristics of theappearance of the complete device when in such folded, collapsedrelationship. Indeed, the situation is quite the contrary, and thefolded, collapsed rigid members complement and comprise a part of theover-all appearance of the complete device when in folded, collapsedrelationship as is most apparent from a careful examination of FIG. 4.

It will be noted that, in the exemplary first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-8 inclusive, the housing means 30 is shown asbeing of substantially rectangular configuration having the batteries 38positioned therein in similar, aligned, series connected relationship attheir intermediate junction with each other and having the rear end ofthe right battery or cell 38 shown in FIG. 2 connected to an interiorresilient electrical contact element 74 taking the form of anelectrically conductive curved spring member, which is fastened to theright end wall 28 of the housing 30 (which is made of insulating plasticmaterial or the like) by a rivet means 76, with said spring 74 makingelectrical contact at its opposite end 78 with one of the wires 50 ofthe previously mentioned electric circuit means, as is clearly shown inboth FIGS. 2 and 5. The other wire 50 of the electric circuit means isconnected to a longitudinal electrical connector strip 80 extendingalong the length of the inside top wall of the housing means 30 to theopposite or left end thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, where it is connectedthrough a downwardly extending connector portion 82 to a rivet 84fastened to a slide-in mounting plate 85 and positioned in end abutmentwith the central pole or terminal 86 of the left battery 38 shown inFIG. 2. Since the right battery 38 shown in FIG. 2 also has its leftterminal 88 series connected to the right end wall 90 of the leftbattery 38, the arrangement just described electrically connectsopposite terminals of the two series connected batteries 38 to the twoelectric wires 50 of the electric circuit means passing upwardly throughthe hollow rivet or grommet 56 of the lowermost or base one of the threehinge means 52, as it best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The remote ends ofthe two wires 50 pass through the previously mentioned opening 64 in therear wall of the light-emitting head means where one of said wires isconnected to the deflectable switch arm 92 of the previously mentionedswitch means 40, and the other of said wires 50 extends downwardlythrough a slot 94 in an insulated lamp bulb socket 96 carrying the lampbulb 42 to a bottom-positioned rivet 98 which connects with the bottomcentral terminal of the lamp bulb 42 in a conventional manner. Theswitch arm 92 has a remote end portion 100 which is normally out ofcontact with the metallic or electrically conductive mirror 46, butwhich is adapted to be deflected downwardly into electrical engagementtherewith as is clearly shown in FIG. 6, when the switch actuatingbutton 102 is moved forwardly from its normal, rearward, extreme offposition. This then completes an electric circuit through the switch arm92 and the electrically conductive portion of the mirror 46 to theexterior other terminal portion 104 of the lamp bulb 42 so that anelectrical circuit will be completed from the batteries 38 through thewires 50 carried by the coupling means 24 and through the switch 40 tothe filament inside of the lamp which will be energized whereby to causethe light bulb 42 to emit light. Of course, immediately upon retractingmovement of the pushbutton 102, the light bulb 42 will be de-energized.

It should be noted that the two batteries 38 are properly positionedwithin the rectangular interior of the housing means 30 by spacer vanes106 which lie in vertical planes along the interior of the housing andwhich are provided with arcuate portion cut-outs such as shown at 108,adapted to abuttingly engage, support, and mount the batteries 38 withinthe housing in properly centered, longitudinally aligned relationship.

For convenience in construction, the upper portion of the rectangularhousing 30, which is designated by the reference numeral 30U in FIG. 8only, may be integrally formed while the bottom portion of the housing,which is designated generally at 30B in FIG. 8 only, may be alsointegrally formed but separate from the upper housing portion 30U, withsaid two housing portions being arranged to be vertically snapfittogether at the snapfit engagement junction indicated generally at 110in FIG. 8. This provides an arrangement which allows the previouslymentioned slide plate 85 to be slidably moved into position in the leftend of the upper portion of the housing means 30 so that the rivet 84will be properly positioned for contact with the left central pole 86 ofthe left battery 38, after which the two batteries 38 can be moved intothe upper portion of the housing 30 and the lower portion of the housing30 can be snapfit into the upper portion of the housing 30 in the mannermost clearly shown in FIG. 8 and described in connection therewith,although it is actually also shown rather well in FIG. 2 and to asomewhat lesser extent in FIGS. 1 and 4. While this provides aconvenient method of manufacture of the two separate molded parts of thebase means 22, the invention is not specifically limited thereto and maybe manufactured of various other materials and in various other ways andin various other configurations.

It should also be noted that, in the example illustrated, thelight-emitting head means 20 is made of molded plastic construction andhas a separable front portion 112 carrying the front lens 48, which isadapted to be snapfit into place at the snapfit junction indicatedgenerally at 114, and generally similar to the previously describedsnapfit junction 110 shown in FIG. 8. However, various other materialsand types of construction may be employed in lieu of the exemplaryarrangement illustrated in the first form of the invention and justdescribed in some detail.

It should also be noted that the light-emitting head means 20 iseffectively provided with engagement means 116 adapted to allow theinterconnecting means or coupling member 24 to be moved into the fullyeffectively retracted or collapsed relationship shown in FIGS. 1 and 4,with the light-emitting head means 20 positively engaged and positionedin a longitudinally aligned manner on the right end 28 of the base means22 so that the complete device has flush, exterior, rectangularlyarranged outside surface walls over the complete extent of the foldeddevice, as is perhaps best shown in FIG. 4, wherein the device appearsfrom the exterior to comprise a longitudinal rectangular structurehaving flush surfaces on all four side walls along the complete lengthof the device. This feature is particularly desirable in a modified form13 of the invention such as is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 whereinthe shape of the housing is cylindrical, and it is desired that theentire device, when in fully retracted and folded relationship, simulatethe appearance of a conventional flashlight capable of being operatedsubstantially in the manner of a conventional flashlight for thepurposes of a conventional flashlight.

FIGS.'9 and illustrate fragmentarily a slight modincation of? the firstform of the invention and are to be considered as alternates theretoonly with respect to the differently located switch means and themodification of the so-called mounting or attachment means to take theform of a particular novel type of magnetic attachment means. Qtherwise,the modification shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 with respect to the rest of thestructure thereof (which is not shown fully in FIGS. 9 and 10) is to beconsidered as the same as the corresponding structure of the first formof the invention fully illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1-8 inclusive anddescribed in detail hereinbefore.

Because FIGS. 9 and 10 do illustrate a modified form of the invention,parts which are structurally or functionally similar to or analogous tothose of the first form of the invention are designated by similarreference numerals, followed by the letter a, however.

In the modification of FIGS. 9 and 10, the previously mentioned mountingor attachment means is generally designated by the reference numeral 26aand comprises a novel type of magnetic attachment means cooperable fortemporary magnetic attachment in any selected position with respect toany suitable ferromagnetic auxiliary mounting surface, such as theexemplary one shown fragmentaril'y at 118, for example, in FIG. 9. Themagnetic attachment means 26a comprises a permanent magnet means 120carried within a recess in the bottom wall of the housing means 30a ofthe base means 22a within the outer surface periphery thereof so as tonot protrude therebeyond and further includes a movable and normallyretracted magnetic circuit closing ferromagnetic coupling means,indicated generally at 122, positioned adjacent to the permanent magnetmeans 120 and normally maintained relatively vertically upwardlydisplaced by a thin magnetic retraction member 124 fixedly mountedwithin the housing means 30a of the base means 22a. In other words, themagnetic retraction member 124 normally holds the ferromagnetic couplingmeans 122 in fully retracted relationship so that it does not protrudethrough the slots 126 in the lower wall of the housing means 30a of thebase means 22a in the manner best shown in FIG. 10. However, as soon asa larger mass of magnetic material or a mass of magnetic material havinga greater permeability is placed below the exterior of the bottom wallof the housing 30a of the base means 22a, the ferromagnetic couplingmeans 122 will be magnetically caused to move downwardly so as to extendthe inverted U-shaped tip ends 128 thereof through the slots 126 into aprotruding relationship for magnetic holding engagement with respect tothe surface 118 of such a larger or thicker mass of ferromagneticmaterial comprising an auxiliary ferromagnetic mounting structure. Inthe example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be noted that theferromagnetic coupling means 122 is split at the center, whichfacilitates its freedom of movement and its function, but the inventionis not specifically so limited and may be modified within wide limitsand still remain within the broad scope of the present invention, andall such modifications are intended to be included and comprehendedherein. It will be understood that as soon as the auxiliary magneticmaterial having the surface 118 and having greater attractiveness forthe ferromagnetic coupling means 122 than the magnetic retraction member124, is removed, said ferromagnetic coupling means 122 will immediatelymove upwardly toward the magnetic retraction member 124 into a fullyretracted position such as is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 also illustrates, for purposes of broadening the scope of thepresent invention, a further slight modification which comprises therepositioning of the switch means 40a from the light-emitting head means20a to a location in either one of the rigid members 54a of the couplingmeans 24a, although the preferred location thereof is adjacent to thelower end 34a of the lower rigid member 54a. Of course, the switch means40a in this modification is in circuit with a corresponding one of thetwo electric circuit wires similar to those shown at 50 in the firstform of the invention, and also in this modification the switch means40a merely opens or closes said circuit and at the location within thelight-emitting head means 20a corresponding to the location of theswitch arm 92 of the first form of the invention best shown in FIG. 6, apermanent connector is provided in lieu of the switch arm 92 connectedto the mirror portion similar to that shown at 46 in the first form ofthe invention or directly connected to the exterior light bulb terminalsuch as that shown at 104 in the first form of the invention so thatoperation of the switch 40a carried in the rigid arm 54a willeffectively energize and de-energize a light bulb similar to that shownat 42 in the first form of the invention.

It should be clearly understood that the combination of two modifiedfeatures in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 does notcomprise a limitation. In other words, either of the modified featuresshown in the FIGS. 9 and 10 form of the invention may be employedindependently and need not be employed in combination, and the inventionis not limited to the combination thereof but is intended to include andcomprehend the individual use of either of the modifications shown inFIGS. 9 and 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a further slight modification of theinvention and, therefore, parts which are structurally or functionallysimilar to those of previously described forms of the invention aredesignated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter b,however. This modification of the invention may be adapted to behand-held or mounted on its base which, in effect, may hen be said tocomprise the so-called mounting or attachment means 26b, or it may beprovided with the modified type of magnetic attachment means generallydesignated by the reference numeral 26a in the modification of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. Alternatively, it, or any ofthe other forms of the invention, may be provided with various othertypes of magnetic attachment means or other non-magnetic attachmentmeans in lieu of the corresponding parts designated by the referencenumeral 26, 26a, and/or 26b, in any of the three exemplary andnon-specifically limiting forms of the invention illustrated. Otherwise,this modification of the invention is substantially the same as thefirst form of the invention with the exception of the fact that thehousing means 30b of the base means 22b is of substantially cylindricalexterior cross-sectional shape as is the lightemitting head means 20a sothat when fully collapsed in the manner best shown in FIG. 11 the entiredevice closely simulates the appearance of a conventional flashlight.Also, it should be noted that, in this particular form of the invention,the arrangement of the two rigid members 54b of the coupling means 24bso as to effectively form a continuous outside surface part of the basemeans 22b when in fully collapsed retracted relationship as shown inFIG. 11, is provided in a slightly different manner than in the firstand second forms of the invention. In the FIGS. 11 and 12 modification,this is provided by having the base means 22b provided with longitudinalrecess means (best shown in FIG. 12) along at least one side of thelength of the housing means 30b of the base means 22b and adapted toreceive the two corresponding rigid members 54b in laterally adjacent,folded relationship when the coupling means 24b is fully collapsed, andwith the exterior surfaces of said rigid members 54b lying in apredetermined, substantially flush exterior surface-forming relationshipwith respect to laterally adjacent outer surface portions of the housingmeans 30b of the base means 22b.

Also in this modification of the invention, the end engagement means116b is substantially circular in shape rather than rectangular as inthe first form of the invention.

It should be noted that the switch means in the various forms of theinvention, such as the exemplary one shown at 40 in the first form ofthe invention and best illustrated in FIG. 1 thereof, has been shown asan on-oif type of switch and has not shown the inclusion therein of amomentary closure type of push-button switch, or the like, which isadvantageous in connection with flashlights and has been conventionallyused in connection therewith in the past. It should be understood thatthe detailed structure of such a momentary closure type of switchstructure is not shown in the drawings of this application for reasonsof drawing simplicity and clarity, and since such momentary closure typeof switches are well-known in the art and do not touch upon theinventive aspects of the present invention. However, it should beclearly understood that the present invention contemplates the use ofsuch momentary closure type of switch means in various forms of thepresent invention and no exclusion thereof is intended. Also, it shouldbe noted that while the base means has been shown in various forms ofthe present invention as being made of plastic, it is not specificallyso limited and the construction may be altered to be made of insulatedmetal or various other suitable materials. This may be true with respectto the entire device or with respect to certain portions thereof only,and all such variations are intended to be included and comprehendedwithin the broad scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A positionally adjustable trouble lamp means, comprising:electrically energizable light-emitting head means; a base means adaptedto be supplied with electrical energy; positionally adjustableinterconnecting means having a base end connected to said base means andhaving a remote head end connected to said electrically energizable headmeans and adapted to be controllably repositionable into any of aplurality of different positions whereby to correspondingly positionsaid head means relative to said base means and in a manner such thatsaid head means will direct light rays emitted therefrom into a desiredregion when electrically energized, said interconnecting meanscomprising a physically positionally adjustable physicallyinterconnecting structural means portion interconnecting said head meansand said base means and electric circuit means electricallyinterconnecting said head means and said base means for transmittingsaid electrical energy adapted to be supplied to said base means,therefrom to said head means for controllably electrically energizingsaid head means; said head means taking the form of a remote projectionlamp means physically adjustably carried at said remote head end of saidinterconnecting means and being movable into a collapsed retractedposition with respect to said head means substantially aligned with andengaged with one end of said base means whereby to effectively becomeunitary therewith; and engagement means for eflectively causing positiveengagement of said head means with respect to said end of said basemeans when said interconnecting means is in said collapsed retractedposition; controllably operable electric switch means effectively incircuit with said light-emitting head means and said electric circuitmeans electrically connecting same relative to said base means forcontrolling the electrical energization of said light-emitting headmeans; said structural means portion of said interconnecting meansproviding said physical interconnection of said head means with respectto said base means comprising a longitudinal physical coupling memberincorporating therealong effective forcibly bendable hinge means adaptedto effectively provide for relative bending of longitudinally disposedportions of said longitudinal physical coupling member with respect toeach other.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said bendable hinge meanscomprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced hinge means andinterconnecting longitudinal rigid members, with said hinge means eachhaving an axis of rotation substantially transverse to the longitudinaldirection of the adjacent longitudinal rigid members.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit meanscomprises a pair of wires interiorly carried by said longitudinallydisplaced portions of said longitudinal physical coupling member andpassing interiorly through said hinge means spaced therealong.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said electric circuit meanscomprises a pair of wires interiorly carried by said longitudinal rigidmembers and passing interiorly through said hinge means spacedtherealong,

5. A device asdefined in claim 3, wherein said lightemitting head means,electric switch means in circuit with said light-emitting head means,and said electric circuit means electrically connecting same relative tosaid base means is physically carried by said light-emitting head meansin an exteriorly manually operatively accessible position.

6. A device as, defined in claim 4 wheerin said lightemitting headmeans, electric switch means in circuit with said light-emitting headmeans, and said electric circuit means electrically connecting samerelative to said base means is physically carried by said light-emittinghead means in an exteriorly manually operatively accessible position.

7. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein at least two of saidlongitidinal rigid members are laterally displaced from each other alongone of the transverse hinge axes of rotation and are foldable intoside-by-side relationship substantially parallel to and directly alongthe outside of said base means in a manner effectively forming acontinuous outside surface part of said base means when in fullycollapsed retracted relationship with respect to said base means.

8. A device as defined in' tclaim 7, wherein said base means comprises alongitudinal outer housing means having longitiudinal recess means alongat least one side thereof adapted to receive corresponding ones of saidlaterally displaced, interconnecting longitiudinal rigid members of saidinterconnecting means when in said fully collapsed retracted positionwith respect to said base means and adapted to lie in a predeterminedexterior surface forming relationship with respect to laterally adjacentouter surface portions of said housing means Of said base means.

9. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said base means comprises alongitudinal outer housing means of substantially cylindrical formhaving longitudinal recess means along at least one side thereof adaptedto receive corresponding ones of said laterally displaced,interconnecting longitudinal rigid members of said interconnecting meanswhen in said fully collapsed retracted position with respect to saidbase means and adapted to lie in a predetermined substantially flushexterior surface forming relationship with respect to laterally adjacentouter surface portions of said housing means of said base means.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said base means is providedwith attachment means cooperable for temporary mounting and holdingattachment in any selected position with respect to any suitableauxiliary mounting means.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said attachment means isphysically carried by said base means and comprises magnetic attachmentmeans cooperable for temporary magnetic attachment in any selectedposition with respect to any suitable ferromagnetic auxiliary mountingsurface.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said magnetic attachmentmeans comprises permanent magnet means carried by said base means in amanner within the outer surface periphery of said base means so as tonot protrude therebeyond and further includes a movable and normallyretracted magnetic circuit closing ferromagnetic coupling meanspositioned adjacent to said permanent magnet means and a magneticretraction member carried by said base means adjacent to said permanentmagnet means and said movable and normally retracted magnetic circuitclosing ferromagnetic coupling means and normally so positioned withrespect thereto as to cause the full retraction of said coupling meansin a magnetic circuit closing manner between said permanent magnet meansand said magnetic retraction member whereby to maintain said couplingmeans in fully retracted relationship within the exterior peripheralsurface of said base means until a larger body of ferromagnetic materialcomprising a ferromagnetic auxiliary mounting surface is positioned onthe exterior of said base means on the opposite side of said permanentmagnet means and said coupling means from said magnetic retractionmember and effectively causes a greater magnetic attractive force to beexerted between said coupling means and such a ferromagnetic auxiliarymounting surface than between said coupling means and said retractionmember whereby to cause the full extension of said ferromagneticcoupling means from the outer peripheral surface of said base means andinto magnetically engaged, retained, and held relationship between saidpermanent magnet means and such an exterior ferromagnetic auxiliarymounting surface.

13. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said base means is providedwith magnetic attachment means physically carried by said base means andcooperable for temporary magnetic attachment in any selected positionwith respect to any suitable ferromagnetic auxiliary mounting surface.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said magnetic attachmentmeans comprises permanent magnet means carried by said base means in amanner within the outer surface periphery of said base means in a mannerwithin the outer surface periphery of said base means so as to notprotrude therebeyond and further incluges a movable and normallyretracted magnetic circuit closing ferromagnetic coupling meanspositioned adjacnt to said permanent magnet means and a magneticretraction member carried by said base means adjacent to said permanentmagnet means and said movable and normally retracted magnetic circuitclosing ferromagnetic coupling means and normally so positioned withrespect thereto as to cause the full retraction of said coupling meansin a magnetic circuit closing manner between said permanent magnet meansand said magetic ret raction member whereby to maintain said couplingmeans in fully retracted relationship within the exterior peripheralsurface of said base means until a larger body of ferromagnetic materialcomprising a ferromagnetic auxiliary mounting surface is positioned onthe exterior of said base means on the opposite side of said permanentmagnet means and said coupling means from said magnetic retractionmember and effectively causes a greater magnetic attractive force to beexerted between said coupling means and such a ferromagnetic auxiliarymounting surface than between said coupling means and said retractionmember whereby to cause the full extension of said ferromagneticcoupling means from the outer peripheral surface of said base means andinto magnetically engaged, retained, and held relationship between saidpermanent magnet means and such an exterior ferromagnetic auxiliarymounting surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER,

WAYNE A. SIVERTSON, Assistant Examiner Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.24010.67, 52.15

